Responding to Finance minister Arun Jaitley's remark that the BJP-led central government will put the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill to vote in the Rajya Sabha in Monsoon Session of Parliament with or without Congress, the grand old party on Sunday alleged that the BJP government has 'shrunk and sunk' the Indian economy adding that India is possibly facing the greatest amount of economic distress.
"If you look at all the economic parameters, India is possibly facing the greatest amount of economic distress. There is no sentiment in the market; real estate has completely and absolutely collapsed. 33 percent of India is reeling under distress. There is no hope and aspiration among the younger people, there is no employment which is being created. Even the claims of brining the black money back and depositing at the rate of 15 lakh rupees within hundred days has proved to be an empty and rhetorical promise," Congress leader Manish Tewari told ANI here.
Tewari said that the Finance Minister should come out with a white paper on the Indian economy merely by fudging economic numbers.
"If the Finance Minister wants to feel good about it, then it is his problem. But the fact is that the Indian economy is not growing at 7.6 percent by all account, by sentiments, by feel and by economic activity your doing closes to 4.5 to 5 percent and this is going to have huge consequences," he added.
Jaitley had yesterday said that the Government may seek voting on GST Constitution amendment bill in Rajya Sabha in the Monsoon session in case Congress continues to oppose the long-pending indirect tax law.
"Only one political party, the Congress, and that is a political opposition. That is not an ideological opposition. I am trying my best to talk to them, so that they can come around. And if they don't, then, we'll have no option but to put it to vote," Jaitley said to All India Radio.
Jaitley said the bill will be put to vote in next Parliament session even if Congress continues to oppose it.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill, which has been approved by Lok Sabha, is pending in Rajya Sabha because of stiff resistance by Congress, the largest party in the House.
Government has been insisting that most of the parties, except Congress, are in favour of GST, which will bring about a uniform indirect taxation regime in the country.
